Energy
The case for green buildings in the COVID-19 recovery
By supporting green buildings, the European Commission can simultaneously cut down energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions while improving comfort and health, and supporting Europe’s 18 million construction workers, writes Peter Sweatman.
Forests are crucial for building resilience in a post COVID-19 world
The Commission's new Biodiversity Strategy shows how forests are crucial for building resilience in a post COVID-19 world, writes Giulia Bondi.
EU climate neutrality is essential, or recovery will be short-lived
A growing number of businesses have recognised the economic benefits of the transition to a carbon neutral economy. It is now critically important that Europe commits to strengthening the Green Deal with a 55% greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030, write Eliot Whittington and María Mendiluce.
Green Deal – and electrification – should be the backbone of EU recovery plan
The Green Deal is Europe’s growth strategy. Making it the backbone of the recovery plan is not only necessary in a climate perspective, but also from an economic point of view – in order to create growth and work opportunities that are sustainable in the long run, argue Nordic energy CEOs and top executives.
Turning the page on the age of oil
Governments have a choice: stimulate fossil fuel industries or invest in a more resilient recovery, powered by renewable energy. This is a once in a generation chance, write Achim Steiner and Francesco La Camera.
Tackling tropical deforestation: The need for EU leadership
The EU's commitment to introduce mandatory due diligence standards on companies importing products linked to environmental damage and human rights abuses deserves praise, write Darragh Conway and Alison Hoare. It now must be followed through, they argue.
The relevance of the EU Green Deal in a post-COVID-19 world
In the wake of an escalating global oil industry crisis, drastic global energy law reforms are more needed than ever in order to salvage a viable energy transition, argue Vicente López-Ibor Mayor and Raphael Heffron.
Leaving no one in the dark, neither today nor tomorrow
When people lose their job or are put under pressure, in particular regarding their health, they should not be worrying about paying their bills, write Marine Cornelis and Alicia Carrasco.
We must invest today in the buildings of tomorrow
In the COVID-19 aftermath, making our buildings energy efficient is key to reconcile Europe’s climate objectives with rapid economic recovery. To get this done we need an ambitious policy roadmap at EU level, write Bertrand Deprez and Mohammed Chahim.
Another ‘Russian pipeline deadline’ approaches – this time with Poland in focus
European gas consumers, especially in Germany, are dependent on Poland’s willingness to set reasonable transit tariffs for the Polish section of the Yamal gas pipeline. But a deadline looms, and the risk of disruption exists, writes Danila Bochkarev.
A green bailout must put Europe’s energy poor first
To weather the COVID-19 crisis, Europe’s energy poor urgently need a green bailout – providing decent, zero-carbon homes for all, writes Clémence Hutin.
Planting the seeds of a green economic recovery after COVID-19
As with all publicly-funded economic stimulus measures, conditions must be applied to the upcoming EU recovery plan, argues Peter Vis. He outlines a few ideas when it comes to the car and airline industries as well as the upcoming building renovation wave.
Despite controversy, the Energy Charter Treaty is silently being pushed into Africa
Joining the Energy Charter Treaty could cost developing countries money that is urgently needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, argue Pia Eberhardt, Cecilia Olivet and Faith Lumonya.
COVID-19: fixing our relationship with food and nature is more important than ever
Europe’s relationship to food and nature must not be put to one side because of the COVID-19 crisis, it should be front and centre in the recovery, argues Sini Eräjää.
Building renovations can unleash future-proof jobs for a green recovery
Investing in safer, more comfortable and cleaner homes and public buildings would benefit people and the economy, writes Barbara Mariani. Barbara Mariani is senior policy officer for climate and energy at European Environmental Bureau and works as buildings expert for...
How the coronavirus outbreak affects the EU’s 2030 climate targets
Ultimately, the coronavirus pandemic may slow down initial plans to adopt the European Climate Law and a number of other climate-related policy proposals, writes Robert Jeszke.
The time to decentralise electric vehicle e-roaming is now
Whether for personal travel or cellular phones or petrol-fueled cars, roaming is good and common. So why do we make it so much harder for EVs? ask Jesse Morris and Dietrich Sümmermann. Jesse Morris is chief commercial officer of Energy...
How to finance virus response in a sustainable way? Scale up synergies with the Green Deal
EU member states should not have to choose between financing the COVID-19 response, undertaking crucial long-term investments to tackle the climate crisis, and debt sustainability, write Irene Monasterolo and Ulrich Volz.
A resilient EU economy must be built on strong local communities
The political and economic measures taken to revive our economy following the Corona crisis need to ensure long-term resilience of the system. Strengthening local communities will be the key to achieving this objective, says Dirk Vansintjan.
Hydrogen alliance could help rebuild European unity
A hydrogen alliance initiated by Poland and Germany could be one of the ways to preserve European unity in the face of the looming economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, writes Wojciech Jakóbik.
Beyond the corona darkness: Bringing light, air and sustainability into people’s homes
The European Green Deal must be central to the recovery programme needed to transition out of the crisis caused by COVID-19, writes Oliver Rapf. And the European Commission's upcoming building renovation wave should be at the centre of it, he argues.
COVID-19 stimulus should address health, economy and climate together
Governments around the globe are quickly designing some of the biggest economic stimulus plan ever seen in peacetime in response to the COVD-19 pandemic. But while the health crisis has forced all concerned to take swift action, we are still moving too slowly when it comes to the climate crisis, writes María Mendiluce.
Green Deal deserves a better Energy Taxation Directive in 2020, not years from now
Europe has a choice between getting a good taxation directive this year or waiting years for something not yet defined that may never win agreement. For the sake of climate progress, it should take its chances with what it has now, writes Jim Power.